Traveler's Advisory
By
LEORA MOLDOFSKY
Europe
Cruises
Aristotle Onassis didn't do things by halves. So when the
Greek shipping magnate decided he needed a floating home,
the result was "the last word in opulence," according to Egypt's
King Farouk. Starting in August, deep-pocketed tourists can
cruise the Med in style on the Christina O, named after Onassis'
daughter. On board are 18 staterooms, a pool with a mosaic
floor that rises above the water to become a dance floor,
and a bar with stools upholstered in whale's foreskin. Other
amenities include a spa complex, a helicopter pad and a children's
playroom. Ten-night cruises through the Greek islands cost
$8,750-or you can book the whole boat for $70,000 a day. For
more details, see www.tauck.com.
Shelter
Switzerland can be an expensive country to visit. But budget
conscious travelers can now hit the hay during the sunny season
with the Swiss Farmers Federation's Schlaf im Stroh (Sleep
in Straw) program. Offered during the summer months by farmers
who have sent their cattle to graze in alpine pastures, the
beds in barns cost $11 a night ($6 for children) including
breakfast; some farms even provide organically grown straw.
Travelers should bring their own sleeping bags and can book
their stays directly with the farms through the federation's
website, www.bauernverband.ch.
North
America
Lodi
New Jersey's industrial sprawl is becoming a tourist hotspot,
thanks to a television series about a Prozac-popping mafia
don. On Location Tours is offering bus tours of sites used
in the series The Sopranos, including the Bada Bing (in reality,
Lodi's Satin Dolls men's club) and the Satriales Pork Store
in Kearney. Also included are a primer on "Mob speak," information
about the show's stars and its creator David Chase, a trivia
contest (winners get tapes and CDs) and a visit to an Italian
bakery. The three-hour tours cost $30 and depart on Sunday
afternoons from the Bryant Park Fountain on Manhattan's Sixth
Avenue. See www.sceneontv.com.
Asia
Jayapura
Few places in the world remain untouched by tourism. But in
the remote rainforests of Irian Jaya (West Papua) live tribespeople
who still use stone tools, live in tree houses and have little
contact with the outside world. Ecotourism companies are now
offering encounters with the hunter-gatherer clans of the
rugged Indonesian province. Wilderness Travel offers 20-day
journeys departing on Sept. 2 and Nov. 3 from the regional
capital, Jayapura. Prices start at $4,595, including basic
accommodation and meals. (Because of recent political unrest
and violence, the U.S. State Department discourages visits
to the area.) See www.wildernesstravel.com.
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May 21, 2001 | No. 20
COVER
STORIES
Justice
Delayed
Does the hitch in Timothy McVeigh's execution point to deeper fbi problems?
The confessed bomber may get what he is due in the end, but he may also
have met one of his goals: making Americans doubt the way their government
pursues justice
TRAVELER'S
ADVISORY
SOUTH
PACIFIC
NEW ZEALAND: Loved to Death...
A top tourist spot's popularity has become a threat to its beauty
Defense: The focus shifts from force
to service
THE
ARTS
ART: Kathleen Petyarre's Utopia Dreamings
BOOKS: A Harry Potter wannabe cries foul
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